A few weeks ago, we took a first look at the Taurus 856 and how it is a solid self-defense solution for people who are looking for a simple to operate firearm on a budget. Since that video gained so much traction, I wanted to do something specifically for the beginners out there that might be thinking of or already have purchased their 856, so they have some basics of revolver handling.
To start off with a disclaimer: These are my practices, so as always YMMV.
First off, a quick re-introduction (or maybe introduction) to our assistant today. This is a Taurus 856 revolver with a six shot cylinder chambered in .38 special. It's been upgraded with a Hogue Monogrip and a reduced power hammer and trigger spring from Wolff Gunsprings.
Now that we've got the parts covered, we can jump into handling the revolver. The first tip I have is how to carry the revolver or show that the revolver is unloaded. If the revolver is just laying on a table, a great way to show that it is unloaded is to open the cylinder by pushing forward on the cylinder release and rotating the cylinder out from the frame. Make sure to use the fingers to control the swinging of the cylinder. Do NOT just flick it out. The weapon is physically unable to fire when the cylinder is open, so doing this shows that the weapon is not ready to fire. If there is a need to carry the weapon, a good way to do so is to open that cylinder and then place the fingers completely through the frame. Again the weapon can't fire with the cylinder open, and putting the fingers through the frame physically prevents the cylinder from closing. This can be done with the muzzle pointed upwards or downwards.
The next tip I have is loading and unloading the weapon, which is easy to do now that the cylinder is open. From a muzzle up carrying grip, I like to use my thumb and middle two fingers to control the rotation of the cylinder as I load cartridges in with my other hand. Load a cartridge in, rotate the cylinder a bit, load the next one in, and repeat until the cylinder is full. Then when ready to shoot, rotate the cylinder back into the weapon, again controlling the movement with your fingers, making sure that it locks in place and doesn't turn.
It's worth it to note here that the Hollywood "spin and slam" thing that is seen in movies is a bad thing to do when closing the cylinder...that's a very good way to damage the weapon in a number of ways.
Unloading the weapon is much the same process, but in reverse order. Open the cylinder by pressing that release forward, and then rotate the cylinder out from the frame, using your fingers to control the cylinder and putting your fingers through the frame in a muzzle-up grip. I should note here that the middle of the frame can get very warm or hot, so be careful and don't get surprised by it. This puts the thumb in a great position to press down on the ejection rod, which pushed the shells out, and it also lets gravity help with the ejection.
The next tip I have is on sight alignment, and how to line up the sights. On the 856, the rear sight is very low profile and easy to overlook. The rear sight is actually integrated into the top of the frame, machined in there. For a proper sight picture, the front ramp sight needs to sit centered in the space between the sides of the rear sight. The top of the front sight should be level with the tops of the rear sight.
Now let's talk firing grip. Since a revolver is structurally different from a semiautomatic handgun, the firing grip needs to be altered a bit. Specifically, the support thumb needs t,o be away from the side of the weapon. If I grip the revolver with the same grip I use for a semiauto handgun, my support thumb ends up touching the cylinder and very close to the space where the chamber and barrel meet. This is dangerous because during the shot, hot gasses come out from this area since it is not closed off like it is with a semiauto handgun. If your thumb is there, you can end up getting burnt pretty badly. The solution to this is to keep the thumb far away from this area; I like to put my thumb on top of the knuckle of my other thumb, and pinning them against the grip. This keeps my support thumb away from the hot gasses, as well as keeps it back and out of the way of the trigger and my trigger finger. After that, the firing grip is very similar to a semiautomatic handgun: use firm even pressure on all sides of the grip, push forward with the strong hand and pull back with the support hand.
My last tip is about the trigger. The 856 is a double/single action revolver, which means that it has two ways of firing. The trigger can just be pulled, which will pull the hammer back and then release it, causing the gun to fire. This is called double action, since the trigger performs two actions: pulling the hammer back, and then releasing it to go forward. Alternatively, the hammer can be pulled back with the thumb until it locks in place before pulling the trigger. With the hammer in this rear position, pulling the trigger will release the hammer and cause the gun to fire. This is called single action, since pulling the trigger performs just the one action of releasing the hammer. These two shooting modes feel pretty different, so it's always a good idea to practice both thoroughly.
So that's a few basic tips on revolvers for beginners. Combined with the basic rules of firearm safety, these tips should set you up for success when handling or shooting a revolver. You can check out Brownells where I got the 856 and some of the upgrades for it. Until next time: stay safe!